Spike for golf shoes



- s P v c. w. FULLER 2,053,906

SPIKE FOR GOLF SHOES Filed March 1, 1935 7 INVENTOIRS Clarence Wf'u LlerPatented Sept. 8, 1936 UNITED STATES new PA-TENT- OFFICE 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to spikes for golfv shoes or the like.

Shoes equipped with spikes do not wear out in the same manner asordinary shoes, i. e., the soles and heels after considerable use showlittle or no wear for the reason that the spikes prevent contact withthe ground. But, for that reason, the spikes receive hard usage and inmany instances have been worn completely away long before the shoes areready for discard.

As heretofore made, the spikes have been permanently riveted to the soleand heel and therefore were not replaceable unless the shoe were resoledand reheeled also. Since resoling .and reheeling is not ordinarilynecessary, considerable unnecessary expense was entailed in replacingthe spikes on a pair of shoes.

Others have realized the advantages of providing replaceable spikes buthave uniformly fallen into the error of attempting to thread the spikesin the soles and heels of the shoe. It is quite apparent that theleather of which these parts are made is not a proper medium into whichto thread a member or members which are subjected to considerablestrain. This should be clear when it is realized that the forces on thespikes during a golfers driving swing not only exert wear on the surfaceof the spikes but tend to shear them at their weakest point.

In such instances where the spike was threaded into a metallic socketmember, in previous attempts to provide a replaceable spike, the faultresided in the lack of provision of means to prevent rotation of thesocket member in relation to the shoe sole. This construction wasobviously faulty in view of the forces to which the spikes aresubjected.

This invention, therefore, seeks to provide spikes for golf shoes or thelike which are readily replaceable when worn.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a spikewhich, while no higher than those in present use, presents considerablymore wearing height.

A further object lies in the provision of a twopart spike, one partbeing permanently and nonrotatably aflixed to the shoe and the otherbeing separably united with it for ready replacement.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an extension spikefor use at the edge of the shoe sole of novel and simple construction.

These and many other objects and advantages of the invention and themeans for their attainment will be more readily apparent after perusalof the following specification in which is described the accompanyingdrawing, and in which:

' Fig. 1 is a'bottom view of a golf shoe provided with spikes linaccordance with the invention.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are respectively top plan, side, and bottom plan viewsof a preferred form of spike. 3' v Fig. 5 is an elevational view, partlyin section, of the spike shown in Figures 2, 3, and 4.

Fig. 6 is a similarview of an alternate form of spike.

Fig. '7- is a side view of a modified form of replaceable spike portion.;Fig. 8 is a broken elevational and sectional view of still another formof spike. V

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of an integrally formed spike designed toprovide maximum wearing surface.

In the drawing, in which several preferred embodiments are illustrated,the sole and heel of a shoe are respectively shown at l5 and IS. Theheel, as is usual in shoes for golfers, etc., is provided with spikesll'as shown, and the sole is similarly provided with spikes ll,judiciously placed and with extension spikes I8.

A preferred form of spike is illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive andcomprises the two portions I9 and 20. The portion I9 is formed with aflange 2 I, thickened towards the center to form a substantially conicalhead the sides of which are concavely formed as at 22. The flat side ofthe head is preferably provided with teats or projections 23, andprojecting from that same side is a hollow shank 24 in the manner of atubular rivet adapted to be peened over as at 25 after assembly with theshoe.

It will be noted that the teats 23 are impressed into the surface of theleather as is the peened over portion of the shank 24 thus efiectivelyholding the portion l9 rigidly in place against any tendency to rotate.

The portion I9 is made preferably hollow through the center and providedwith a screw seat which is engageable by the screw stud 26 of theportion 20. The spike portion 20 is preferably formed as a cone having arounded apex, and to facilitate its assembly with, and removal from theportion I9, is provided with a pair of opposed flats 21 which may beengaged by a suitable tool.

It will be noted that the assembled spike comprising the portions l9 and20, or that portion which protrudes from the bottom of the shoe, isshaped like a cone with a flared base portion, the sides of the coneblending into the flared base portion with a curve. This permits makingthe flange thinner and, therefore, the spike portion longer and alsoobviates sharp corners as possible points of fracture.

The alternate form of the invention shown in Figure 6 is the same asabove described except the spike portion is provided with a conicalportion 28 formed at the base of the spike which is adapted to engagethe seat 29 formed in the portion I9. This arrangement provides a yetstronger spike less susceptible to fracture.

If desired the spike may be formed as a pyramid as shown in Figure '7.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 8, the flange 2| is madewithout a taper and provided with a central seat 30 for the base of thespike which in this instance may be provided with a flanged portion toengage the seat for greater stability. It will be understood however,that the seat 30 may be omitted leaving the top surface of the flange 2|flat and unbroken while still obtaining good results with the use ofspike An integrally formed spike, Fig. 9, may also be provided havingthe shape and contour of the form of the invention shown in Figure 5.,Heretofore, a spike of this type was usually shaped as a sharp conehaving a flange formed as a flatter cone, one abruptly starting from theother. In this case it will be noted that the cones 3| and 32 comprisingthe spike are blended into each other as a single relatively long conewith a suitable concave curve 33 filleting the corner formed at thejuncture of the base of the cone with the flange 34. This permits makingthe flange 34 quite thin, yet retaining the desired strength andproviding a longer spike which, naturally, would have longer life.

As is apparent from the foregoing, the invention may be practised inmany ways. This disclosure should therefore be interpreted only in thelight of the prior art.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A spike for shoes comprising a fixed portion, and a replaceableportion; a flange integral with the fixed portion for engagement againstthe outer surface of the shoe sole, a depressed seat in the upper faceof the flange, integral anti-rotational means on the under surface ofthe flange for engagement with the shoe sole, said fixed portion havinga threaded bore communicating with the depressed seat, said replaceableportion having a screw shank for removable engagement with the threadedbore, and having a flange for interfitting engagement with the depressedseat whereby when both portions are assembled the top surfaces of twoflanges will be flush.

2. A spike for shoes comprising a fixed portion and a replaceableportion; a flange integral with the fixed portion for engagement againstthe outer surface of the shoe sole, integral antirotational means on theunder surface of the flange for engagement with the sole, said fixedportion having an axial threaded bore, said replaceable portion having ascrew shank for removable engagement with the threaded bore, the outerend portion of the fixed member having a recessed seat, and the upperend portion of the replaceable portion having a face coacting with therecessed seat when the shank is screwed home in the threaded bore.

CLARENCE W. FULLER.

